Comments about ‘Emily W. Jensen: Bloggernacle Back Bench: Introducing the Mormons’

Advertising religion just does not seem right.

Is the goal to help find salvation, or increase the bottom line?

@Joe Blow-It's to help others find salvation. You will see that The Church of JESUS CHRIST of Latter-day Saints is not the only one out there doing this. I have seen many a billboard in my time for other churches. It's no different than pamphlet handed out and/or put on top of people's cars. We live in a new world and technology makes it easier to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ.
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When I think of that musical I remember the story of Joseph in the OT. Specifically what he tells his brothers when they see him in Egypt helping the Pharaoh. How evil things can be turned around and used for good. I'm glad and proud of our church's efforts to reach out to those searching for the truth.

Fried,

Sorry, I did not mean to suggest that the LDS are the only ones doing it.

I have seen the billboards and the pamphlets also (from other denominations).

Those also appeared to be about bringing in more money.

I find that most, if not all religions share common themes.

POWER, CONTROL and MONEY.

Yes, you can call me a cynic

Hey Joe, you're a cynic (you said we could call you that--ha!)

Actually, since the Boof of Mormon Musical, there have been a lot of questions about our church. The advertising, as you call it, will help direct people where to find answers.

Put a smile on your face, it'll make you happy.

I am not sure if you know this or not, but none of our clergy receives money for the work they do. In fact, they hold regular jobs to support their families or have had enough saved from their careers to support their families. All the money the church receives via our tithing and offerings go towards spreading the gospel--FREE Book of Mormons, Bibles, Movies, etc... that are given to people learning/investigating the church; the building of Temples and Ward buildings; Humanitarian aid; Deseret Industries and other good works the church does.

I am not sure what you mean by "power" and "control". But in reference to The Church of JESUS CHRIST of Latter-day Saints, we only do all that we do to invite people to learn more. It's an open invitation to all and they don't have to learn about it if they don't want to. I hope this helps. Oh, and no one is ever forced to learn, join (in fact this is a no-no), or even tithe. Everything the church does or members do is all because we want to. We always have a choice...yes and/or no. :)

Money - it is estimated that the LDS church has gross annual receipt in excess of $6 Billion Dollars. That is some serious coin.

And how many General Conferences go by with no mention of the need to Tithe?

Power and Control

A Cynic like me would have to believe that Joseph Smith used his position of POWER to gain CONTROL over the flock.

Example - Joseph Smith managed to persuade in excess of 30 women, many of who were married at the time (and some to active LDS men) to marry him.

JoeBlow,

I agree that there are religious groups that seem to focus on power, control, or money. But, in my experience, they are the exceptions, not the norm.

My experience in the LDS faith (as well as with my friends who are elders within their churches), indicates that folks are genuinely interested in the betterment of the people in the congregation.

I have known several bishops for whom serving was nearly a second full-time job. They clearly did not do it for any reason other than devotion to the Gospel and a love of the people. Stake presidency folks also spend a good deal of time in their callings. Again, in my observation of them, they do what they do for the Gospel and for the people.

To believe the LDS faith is about power, control, or money would mean that these same men (or folks just like them) after serving for decades in this very altruistic fashion, make a 180 degree turn and become wholly focused on power, control, and money.

It really makes no sense.

It is funny when people tell us all about our faith and how the church has control over us and take our money and are power crazy. I never had a bill for tithing, Nor one for fast offering. Any person I know in the church does not want to be a bishop or any other high calling because it is so time consuming. I just laugh and wish people like Joe_blow would just read the book of Mormon or come to any church service and check it out. then make a judgement.